Capsicum annuum PLANT NAMED SLP2B322

ABSTRACT

A new  Capsicum annuum  plant named ‘SLP2B322’ distinguished by its combination of seedless fruits, bright red mature fruit color, fruit diameter of about 3 to 3.5 cm, fruit weight of about 20 to 30 grams, and ability to set fruit under relatively hot conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(f) from Netherlands Plant Variety Rights application No. PPS1433, filed Dec. 6, 2012.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Capsicum annuum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘SLP2B322’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Capsicum annuum, designated ‘SLP2B322’.

The new C. annuum ‘SLP2B322’ was discovered and selected as a single plant in Gedera, Israel in 2010, from the progeny of a cross between SC09-F4-33-b as the female parent (not patented) and AJ06-F3-378-19 as the male parent (not patented).

The new cultivar was first asexually propagated by root cuttings in Bet Dagan, Israel in February, 2010 and has been asexually propagated since that time by cutting and rooting in Gedera, Israel and Almeria, Spain. The distinctive characteristics of this new C. annuum are stable and reproduce true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘SLP2B322’ is a distinctive variety of C. annuum characterized by the following traits, which have been repeatedly observed and in combination distinguish ‘SLP2B322’ as a new and distinct C. annuum cultivar:

1. Seedless fruits

2. Bright red mature fruit color

3. Fruit diameter of about 3 to 3.5 cm

4. Fruit weight of about 20 to 30 grams.

5. Ability to set fruit under relatively hot conditions (e.g., 30° C. to 35° C. during the day and 25° C. to 30° C. at night).

Essentially all of the fruits of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ are completely seedless. However, in cases where ‘SLP2B322’ has been grown in the vicinity of a fertile variety, there are occasional fruits with seeds due to cross-pollination by insects transferring pollen from the fertile variety to ‘SLP2B322’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical characteristics of the new cultivar.

FIG. 1 shows mature fruits of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’.

FIG. 2 shows plants of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ growing in a plastic greenhouse in Mivtahime, Israel. This image was taken in December 2012, five and one-half months after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of C. annuum known as ‘SLP2B322’. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or younger plants. Further, ‘SLP2B322’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental and cultural conditions.

‘SLP2B322’ is able to set fruit throughout the year when grown in a plastic greenhouse in southern Israel, including under cold (November to March) and hot (April to June) temperatures, although the set is reduced in July and August under these conditions.

A technical description of the variety is provided below in Table 1 based upon observations of 5-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Gedera, Israel during the Fall season.

TABLE 1 Characteristic Value Short technical description Bush-type plant, medium internodes, produces seedless fruit, good ability to set in relatively hot conditions Method of reproduction vegetatively propagated Plant: length of stem short-medium Plant: shortened internodes absent (indeterminant) (in upper part) Plant: number of internodes between none 1st flower and shortened internodes (Varieties with shortened internodes only) Plant: length of internodes (on primary side medium shoots)(varieties without shortened internodes) Plant: anthocyanin coloration of nodes present Stem: Intensity of anthocyanin medium-strong coloration of nodes Stem: hairiness of nodes weak Plant: vigor strong Plant: height compact Leaf: length of blade medium Leaf: intensity of green colour medium Leaf: shape ovate Leaf: blistering weak Leaf: profile in cross section moderately concave Leaf: glossiness very weak-weak Leaf: Undulation of margin medium Leaf: width of blade medium Flower: anthocyanin coloration in anther absent Peduncle: attitude semi-drooping Time of beginning of flowering (1st medium flower on 2nd flowering node) Fruit: colour (before maturity) green Fruit: intensity of colour medium (before maturity) Fruit: anthocyanin coloration absent (before maturity) Fruit: general impression conical Fruit: attitude horizontal Fruit: length short-medium Fruit: diameter small Fruit: ratio length-diameter medium Fruit: shape in longitudinal section triangular Fruit: shape in cross section circular (at level of placenta) Fruit: sinuation of pericarp at basal part very weak Fruit: sinuation of pericarp excluding absent of very weak basal part Fruit: texture of surface smooth or very slightly wrinkled Fruit: colour (at maturity) red Fruit: intensity of colour (at maturity) medium-dark Fruit: glossiness strong Fruit: stalk cavity absent Fruit: depth of stalk cavity very shallow Fruit: shape of apex (PBR) very acute Fruit: depth of interloculary grooves very shallow Fruit: number of locules predominantly two Fruit: length (cm) 8 to 12 Fruit: diameter (cm) 3 to 3.5 Fruit: thickness of flesh thin Stalk: length medium Fruit: capsaicin in placenta absent Stalk: thickness medium Calyx: aspect non enveloping Seed Absent Time of maturity medium Ripening can be compared with: KAPPY Potato Virus Y pathotype 0 S Potato Virus Y pathotype 1 Unknown Potato Virus Y pathotype 2 Unknown Tobamovirus pathotype P0 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1, P1-2 S Tobamovirus pathotype P0, P1, P1-2, P1-2-3 S Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus S

These and other features and characteristics of cultivar ‘SLP2B322’ are apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2.

Comparisons with Other C. annuum Cultivars

‘SLP2B322’ is most similar to commercial C. annuum cultivar ‘SLP2B131’, which is also a seedless variety. As shown in Table 2, ‘SLP2B322’ can be distinguished from cultivar ‘SLP2B131’ at least with respect to fruit diameter, fruit weight, mature fruit colour, and season for fruit setting.

TABLE 2 SLP2B322 has in comparison with: CHARACTER- ISTIC DENOMINA- IN WHICH THE TION COMPARISON STATE OF OF VARIETY IS EXPRESSION OF STATE OF COMPARISON DIFFERENT COMPARISON EXPRESSION VARIETY FROM SLP2B322 VARIETY OF SLB2B322 SLP2B131 Fruit diameter 2-3 cm 3-3.5 cm SLP2B131 Fruit weight 20 to 30 g 10 to 20 g SLP2B131 Mature fruit Dark red Bright red intensity SLP2B131 Fruit setting season Late (moderate Early (Can set temperatures even in high needed for good temperatures) set) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Capsicum annuum plant named ‘SLP2B322’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 